Spring structure



y 25, 1955 J. M. CAUGHEY 3,185,467

SPRING STRUCTURE Original Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTOR Johw M CA UGHEY ATTORNEY John M, Caughey, Adrian, Mich, pssignor,

: assignments, to I-Ioo'vr Ball and aBe aring" Company Saline, Mich, a corporation of Michigan -81 E Original application June 20, 1960,8SerJNo. 37,478. 1

20, 1960, now abandoned.

' tion mounted therein, and

United Sta -6 Patent 3,185,467K to a qSPlilNG STRUCTURE- by mesne Divided andthis app ication Augr30, 1963,.Ser. 'No.305,628 r g l 4a 7 1 Claim. 01. 267 5-107) The present invention relates toimprjove ments in spring elements of the stringer or. linear type ofdesignespecially adaptedto suit the requirements of furniture manufac- United States application, Serial No. 37,478, filed June It is an object of the invention: to p r ovide spring structure for the seats and backs of furniture. which is less -costlyito produce than currently used' coil structures yet 1 equal the best quality-coil types ineomfort anddurabilityr Ice I Patented May 25,1965

jacent spring elements 10 through clips 54 in a well; known manner;

@P'referablyQthe spacing of theslegs 46 and 48 is such, witli jreference' to the location of the holes 50 to the frame 7 inner face surfaces 18, that the frame portions lZ and 14 are resiliently engaged in' the bight of the anchor portions 39 formed by legs 46 and'48. In this manner an easily accomplished, yet firm, connection of the spring element end portions, 26 and 28 to the frame members is produced. As the torsionbar portions 38 and44 aretransversely related to their associated anchor portion inner a turers. This application is a division of my copending Another object is to provide spring elements -ffor the o d seats and backs of-f-urniture which have inherent stability and make possible the elimination of elaborate systems of diagonal strut bracing required with conventional coil constructions. i

i 1 A further 'object or the inventionis to provide inexpensive, j yet comfortableand durable spring elements d which may be readily attached at one orboth, ends to Wooden or metal frames by mere insertion of "the end" portions of thesprings withoutadditional securingmeans.

Yet anotherjobject of the invention is to provide a spring element of the type described wherein end portions of thef element are in the formof inverted U-portions whereby I the terminal endfof the elementconstitutes a leg of the U-portion and maybe inserted in a hole in frame structure so that the associated'leg,portion engages an outer surface of theframe structure, providing a resilient gripping connection between the ends of. the spring, element and the frame structure." I I These and other objects and advantages residing in the present invention will appear from'the following specification and claims. i i .i

leg 45 and engage the frame inner face surfaces 18,

a lateral stability of the spring element relative to the frame is provided and the portions 39 function as hinge pins to permit the portions 38 and 44 to effectively function torsionally.

It is appreciated that other embodiments of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art-without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is in- [tended that the invention be defined only by the scope of the following claim. r a, l

I claim:

In combination, furniture having a pair of spacedframe members 'to receive and support stringer-type wire spring elements, said frame members having relatively fiat upper and inner face surfaces, holes defined in said frame members and opening through said upper surfaces, said holesiof each frame portion lying in a plane substantially parallel to the inner facejsurface of the associated frame member: and spaced therefrom, stringer-type Wire spring elements each comprising alinear portion, fishmouth portions located at'opposite ends of said linear portion'to suportsaidlinear portion in spaced relation to the frame members, said fishmouth portions being defined by-spaced torsion bar portions transversely disposed to said linear portions and portions disposed substantially parallel to s the length of said linear portion and extending between said torsion bar portions, said fishmouth portions having frame member engaging portions in the form of frame anchor portions, said anchor portions each taking the form of an inverted U having inner and outer leg fportions, said outer leg portions each adapted to be received in a frame member'hole, the spacing between the leg portions of a common anchor portion being so related to the spacing between the holes of a frame member and the inner frace surface thereof that said inner leg portion resiliently engages said frame inner face surface upon the associated outer leg portion being received within a frame member hole, said leg portions being disposed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said linear portion, a

torsion bar portion affixed to each of said inner leg portions and transversely disposed thereto wherein said lastelements 10-(of which only one is shown in FIG. 1)

which collectively make up the back spring structure, are

spaced along the frames 12 andf14 with each having a linear portion 20. Oppositeends of the portion 20 merge into 'fishmouth portions 22 and 24, the end portions 26 and 28 of which each comprise an inverted U-, shaped frame anchorportion 30. The portions'22 and 24 are defined by torsion bar portions 32, 34, 36, 38, 40,

d 42, and 44, with the portions 38 and 44beingintegral and lateral extensions of the inner legs, ofthe portions 30 and engaging with the frames 12 and 14. The outer legs 48 of the portions 30 are received in drilledholes 50 in the frame portions 12 and 14 which intersect the frame surface 16. The frame'portions 52 connect admentioned torsion bar portions resiliently engage said frame member upon said outer leg portions being received within a frame member hole, said leg portions being connected by arcuate portions disposed in the plane of said leg portions, said arcuate portions being out of contact with said upper surfaces.

4 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,829, 4/58 0 Staples et al 2671 2,870,823 1/59 Staples 267 3,024,016

3/62 Strouit et al. 2671 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. 

